Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
add
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
American
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN BULL AND HIS ISLAND," ETC.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion.
association
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
AUTHOR
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From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN BULL AND HIS ISLAND," ETC.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
BULL
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From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN BULL AND HIS ISLAND," ETC.
BYprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN BULL AND HIS ISLAND," ETC.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
characteristic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
cite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion.
company
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From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
ETC
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From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN BULL AND HIS ISLAND," ETC.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
Gallic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
grotesque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion.
HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN BULL AND HIS ISLAND," ETC.
humor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
introduce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
ISLAND
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN BULL AND HIS ISLAND," ETC.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
JOHN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN BULL AND HIS ISLAND," ETC.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
Max
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
O'Rell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
occasion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN BULL AND HIS ISLAND," ETC.
PREFACE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PREFACE.
preposterousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
proof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion.
readers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
serve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
Surely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN BULL AND HIS ISLAND," ETC.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
wit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.
